title: Clinical use of a ceramide-based moisturizer for treating dogs with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: In humans, skin barrier dysfunction is thought to be responsible for enhanced penetration of allergens. Similar to conditions seen in humans, canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is characterized by derangement of corneocytes and disorganization of intercellular lipids in the stratum corenum (SC) with decreased ceramide levels. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a moisturizer containing ceramide on dogs with CAD. Dogs (n = 20, 3~8 years old) with mild to moderate clinical signs were recruited and applied a moisturizer containing ceramide for 4 weeks. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration, pruritus index for canine atopic dermatitis (PICAD) scores, and canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index (CADESI) scores of all dogs were evaluated. Skin samples from five dogs were also examined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using ruthenium tetroxide. TEWL, PICAD, and CADESI values decreased (p < 0.05) and skin hydration increased dramatically over time (p < 0.05). Electron micrographs showed that the skin barrier of all five dogs was partially restored (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these results demonstrated that moisturizer containing ceramide was effective for treating skin barrier dysfunction and CAD symptoms.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Eui-hwa
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Seol-hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seung-hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Cheol-yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002518:Ceramides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D004643:Emollients / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D056910:Republic of Korea; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D004643:Emollients; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds; D002784:Cholesterol; C027646:ruthenium tetraoxide
keywords: atopic dermatitis; ceramide; dog; skin barrier dysfunction; transmission electron microscopy